Double Ballade for History Repeated: Part Two

Too long, I too withheld my earfrom “slanderers” who pouredout tales of victimhood to smearthe servants of the Lord.I trusted in our leaders’ sneer:“No sins like that could blight us.”But unhealed traumas reappear.The past comes back to bite us.

Some quibble, now the bill is here,“The Church cannot affordto let each claimant profiteerand claim a fat reward.”“The damage wasn’t that severe.”“They bankrupt us to spite us.”But unhealed traumas reappear.The past comes back to bite us.

Survivors say, “When we come near,we get Don’t rob the poor-edby those who’ll only shed a tearto mourn the Church’s hoard.They pay when forced to pay. And we’rereproached as they requite us.”But unhealed traumas reappear.The past comes back to bite us.